1. Why are climbers who are great enough to make it into such a movie grab the rope while falling ? I've seen Sharma, Ondra and somebody in a Sterling commercial do that. I always thought that was a newbie thing, just like holding the rope while being lowered.

2. Why are Sharma and Ondra climbing in jeans ? They could have something that's a pound lighter. It's not like they do knee jams. Compare that to cyclists, who obsess over every ounce.

1. Why are climbers who are great enough to make it into such a movie grab the rope while falling ? I've seen Sharma, Ondra and somebody in a Sterling commercial do that. I always thought that was a newbie thing, just like holding the rope while being lowered.

It's just a natural reaction; it also helps to keep the rope form smacking you in the face when it comes taught.

In reply to:

2. Why are Sharma and Ondra climbing in jeans ? They could have something that's a pound lighter. It's not like they do knee jams. Compare that to cyclists, who obsess over every ounce.

1. Why are climbers who are great enough to make it into such a movie grab the rope while falling ? I've seen Sharma, Ondra and somebody in a Sterling commercial do that. I always thought that was a newbie thing, just like holding the rope while being lowered.

Better than grabbing the draw when falling.

In reply to:

2. Why are Sharma and Ondra climbing in jeans ? They could have something that's a pound lighter. It's not like they do knee jams. Compare that to cyclists, who obsess over every ounce.

Checked online and a pair of Prana jeans are 1 lb 6 oz. My Prana pants, also long and great to climb in, are 12oz. That's 10 oz difference, which could be easily a pound had they worn shorts. I assume it was warm since they didn't have a shirt on. That's not minor if you weight 130 lbs, like Adam.

1. Why are climbers who are great enough to make it into such a movie grab the rope while falling ?

Because there is a difference between being a professional and being an expert. Climbing 5.15 does not make you an expert, it makes you strong. Sure one could argue it makes you an expert on climbing movement, but it does not make you an expert in all aspects of climbing. There are a number of guys in the Real Rock Film tour that I would not let belay me. I know because I have climbed with some of them. Take a look at the front cover of the new RRG guidebook. It shows Sharma climbing some .14. Take a look at the first quickdraw. It is backclipped... In fact, some of the strongest people I have ever climbed with were complete shit belayers. I climbed with a guy who linked the Nose and the Regular Route on Half Dome in a day and he dident even know how to belay on a sport climb! I kept getting hard ass catches all week from him! I explained how to preform a soft catch to him a number of times and he just dident get it. I guess that is what happens when you try to climb hard sport with a trad climber...

That the OP used the word "apropos". Might be the first time that's ever been used in this forum.

As to the jeans question, they wear them for the same reason that boulderers wear beanies and down coats when it's 75 F. To look like badass climbing hipsters. And the sheep flock to the stores to buy the now-requisite apparel. It's not that different from painters' pants and rugby shirts BITD. Splatter-patterned Lycra tights OTOH, were genuinely performance-enhancing .

1. Why are climbers who are great enough to make it into such a movie grab the rope while falling ?

Because there is a difference between being a professional and being an expert. Climbing 5.15 does not make you an expert, it makes you strong. Sure one could argue it makes you an expert on climbing movement, but it does not make you an expert in all aspects of climbing. There are a number of guys in the Real Rock Film tour that I would not let belay me. I know because I have climbed with some of them. Take a look at the front cover of the new RRG guidebook. It shows Sharma climbing some .14. Take a look at the first quickdraw. It is backclipped... In fact, some of the strongest people I have ever climbed with were complete shit belayers. I climbed with a guy who linked the Nose and the Regular Route on Half Dome in a day and he dident even know how to belay on a sport climb! I kept getting hard ass catches all week from him! I explained how to preform a soft catch to him a number of times and he just dident get it. I guess that is what happens when you try to climb hard sport with a trad climber...

Maybe you should offer some sort of seminar, like, "USNavy's Proper Belay Techniques for Pros," where you can teach people like Sharma and Ondra how to REALLY belay.

Here's my take on why they're grabbing the rope: because when you are trying a really hard move that you fall on dozens of times, and getting a soft catch that results in a ten foot fall every time you flub the move, you get sick of yarding back up every time. You grab the rope so that you don't fall as far. This would be especially true for Sharma, who probably outweighs his belayer Dalia by 40-50 lbs.

And what are the reasons for NOT grabbing the rope? Because it can injure your shoulder when you take essentially a static fall onto yourself. However, it is possible to grab a rope and fall onto it dynamically, using your bicep as a screamer; just the same way you do when you fall back onto a hold after missing a deadpoint, or when your feet slip and you're in a bomber, sharp finger lock. I think that 5.15 climbers are probably going to know how to do this, and not injure themselves by grabbing the rope as they fall.

As for jeans... no clue. They're probably just invoking the spirit of Ron Kauk.

1. Why are climbers who are great enough to make it into such a movie grab the rope while falling ?

Because there is a difference between being a professional and being an expert. Climbing 5.15 does not make you an expert, it makes you strong. Sure one could argue it makes you an expert on climbing movement, but it does not make you an expert in all aspects of climbing. There are a number of guys in the Real Rock Film tour that I would not let belay me. I know because I have climbed with some of them. Take a look at the front cover of the new RRG guidebook. It shows Sharma climbing some .14. Take a look at the first quickdraw. It is backclipped... In fact, some of the strongest people I have ever climbed with were complete shit belayers. I climbed with a guy who linked the Nose and the Regular Route on Half Dome in a day and he dident even know how to belay on a sport climb! I kept getting hard ass catches all week from him! I explained how to preform a soft catch to him a number of times and he just dident get it. I guess that is what happens when you try to climb hard sport with a trad climber...

Maybe you should offer some sort of seminar, like, "USNavy's Proper Belay Techniques for Pros," where you can teach people like Sharma and Ondra how to REALLY belay.

Here's my take on why they're grabbing the rope: because when you are trying a really hard move that you fall on dozens of times, and getting a soft catch that results in a ten foot fall every time you flub the move, you get sick of yarding back up every time. You grab the rope so that you don't fall as far. This would be especially true for Sharma, who probably outweighs his belayer Dalia by 40-50 lbs.

And what are the reasons for NOT grabbing the rope? Because it can injure your shoulder when you take essentially a static fall onto yourself. However, it is possible to grab a rope and fall onto it dynamically, using your bicep as a screamer; just the same way you do when you fall back onto a hold after missing a deadpoint, or when your feet slip and you're in a bomber, sharp finger lock. I think that 5.15 climbers are probably going to know how to do this, and not injure themselves by grabbing the rope as they fall.

As for jeans... no clue. They're probably just invoking the spirit of Ron Kauk.

I wear jeans every day by default (including when I climb) unless it's too hot. In that case I wear shorts. I find jeans very comfortable when climbing in cold weather. An added bonus is that I don't need to stop by the locker room to change when I go to the gym.

Jeans are good at protecting your skin when doing heel hooks, knee bars or other moves that require lots of leg contact with the rock.

As for the added weight, it's just noise. Same as the water you just drank, the sandwich you haven't pooped yet, rope drag, etc.